Michigan State leaves last season's disappointment behind

Spartans say this team more cohesive, selfless on eve of tournament opener

March 16, 2012|By Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune reporter

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A trio of Michigan State players glanced at each other and snickered when asked about last season's team chemistry. Two banned words had just been brought up: Last season.

"We were instructed not to talk about last year," senior guard Austin Thornton said. "That's why it was kind of funny to us."

Thornton inadvertently lifted the gag order by explaining why it existed the day before the No. 1-seeded Spartans begin their Final Four quest with an NCAA tournament game against No. 16 LIU-Brooklyn.

"Last year was last year, and this year is this year," he said. "We're a new team in a lot of aspects really with a lot of different guys. In the last couple years, especially even last year, guys had minds elsewhere. It wasn't entirely focused on the success of this program, and that's what is different and what's special about this year's team."

The Spartans were booted by UCLA in the Round of 64 a season ago. This season's team is healthier and more cohesive. Even if skeptics didn't view them that way at the start of the season.

Michigan State was 0-2 after losses to North Carolina and Duke.

But hasn't anyone learned this is how coach Tom Izzo constructs a championship-caliber team? He schedules brutally and somehow guides his team to deep tournament runs almost annually.

The Spartans shook off the early defeats, recovered from a three-game road losing streak at the end of January and bounced back from the loss of freshman guard Branden Dawson to a season-ending ACL tear only to win the Big Ten tournament and land a top seed.

"I can honestly say that I think we made progress at least each and every week," said Izzo, who has the Spartans in their 15th straight tournament.

Draymond Green has something to do with this season's run. The versatile senior forward, who has been a captain since his sophomore season, leads the Spartans with 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds while ranking second on the team with 3.6 assists per game.

Thornton's development has been more of a pleasant surprise. He averaged no more than two points per game the last three seasons. While he averages only 5.3 this season, he has been a key contributor lately, making seven of his last 10 3-point attempts.

"That's what everything is all about, getting an opportunity to play," Green said. "(Thornton) got his opportunity to play and it's finally showing to everyone else what I've always seen."

To avoid being the tournament's first No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 16 seed, the Spartans must contain Blackbirds forward Julian Boyd, who was the Northwest Conference Player of the Year with 17.4 points per game.

And they'll need to avoid their own recent unspeakable history.

"Everyone bought in and understands what's best for them is what's best for the team," Thornton said. "It's what's led to the success we had this year."